Three Weeks of Ownership

When I picked up my 06 Toyota Prius on 1 July 06, I was ready to take on the world and uncertain whether I could hit 50 mpg for a tank after applying all I had read from John1701a, efusco, Danman32, xcel, hobbit, ken1784, and many other experienced hybrid drivers on greenhybrid.com, priuschat.com, and priusonline.com. Well according to the MFD on my first tank, I got 53.5 mpg after 490.6 miles. The dealer may have short filled the tank; my calculated mpg was 45.5. Bladder effect? Seems too far off to be the bladder. The temperatures were about the same during at fill-ups.

Well, I am 459 miles into my second tank and I am showing 64.1 mpg. Wow, is all I can say. Using starting and stopping miles and mpg’s, I have been averaging about 75 mpg for the last 240 miles of this tank. I should have enough time and temperature on my hands to go for an 800 mile tank next month during my commutes to work. Maybe then I can join ranks of those that need a hobby. Please don’t take this as gloating, I think I am starting to connect with this little car and I am excited as well. My wife doesn’t understand.

As an aside, should I feel wasteful when we drive my wife’s car and it only get 26 mpg. I feel like I have to wash my hands when I get out. He he.

Yes, thank (insert religious icon here) that it is summer here, it doesn’t rain too often, I don’t make short trips, I ride by myself most of the time, my commute takes about 30-35 minutes, I can drive in 25-45 mph zones with mostly no one behind me, I roll the windows down for fresh air (no A/C), and I have my tires at 42F/40R (psi). The oil level is at the full mark and I am using conventional oil until my 5000 mile oil change. What kind of numbers will next summer bring with a broken in car and synthetic oil?

For those wondering how the hell anyone can get so many miles per tank (me included), I read a good write-up, which had pictures, a good description of pulse and glide, formulas for glide distance needed to achieve a certain mpg based on pulse distance and mpg for the pulse (I put them in an excel spreadsheet if anyone wants it. I also put the basic formulas to let you know what mpg you get for a trip based on starting and stopping miles and mpg values). Maybe someone can post a link to it or make it a sticky here.

Yes, winter is coming, I am very new to this, and I have a lot to learn.

Thank you for sharing in my excitement.

Chris

 

Thank you for your reply. I have seen your impresseive numbers on other forums. I will see what 20F does to my tank and lifetime gas mileage this winter. Only if Florida wasn't so humid; you might get away with your windows down during the summer. Winter mileage should be great for you. That is unless you need a jacket when it is less the 80F (due to your thin florida blood).

Chris